Wolff: Hamilton had “lack of stability or understanding” when he joined Mercedes

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has said that Lewis Hamilton had a “lack of stability or understanding” from complications in his life when he left McLaren, but it has disappeared through time at the Silver Arrows.

Since leaving McLaren for Mercedes in 2013 Hamilton has gone from strength to strength with the team, winning four more championships to add to his first in 2008, and seemingly on course for a sixth this season.

But Wolff believes that the Brit hasn’t just developed as a racing driver since joining but also as a human and that any complications he had in his life have gone over the years at the team.

Wolff said to Formula 1: “He’s an integral part of the team and has developed as a racing driver - but even more spectacularly as a human being.

“When he joined from McLaren it was, for me, like a raw diamond in a sense. You could see complications in his life, and maybe a lack of stability or understanding of what was needed.

“All that has disappeared through the Mercedes years.

“Every year, he became a better Lewis and, knock on wood, in the last two or three years, we’ve barely seen any mistakes.

“And if they happen, he was the first one to admit them, and that has contributed to our culture of being brutally honest with each other.”

The past couple of years Hamilton has broadcasted his life outside of F1, including fashion and music, which has led people to criticise saying he isn’t taking his role as an F1 driver seriously.

But Wolff feels his activities outside the sport have only been a positive for him and the team, contributing to their success.

“I think we need to stop putting people in boxes and say this is how a racing driver has to be,” Wolff added.

“Simply make the effort to try and understand the human behind the helmet and try to carve out the framework that makes that person the best him, or the best her, and make them perform at the very top.

“I believe that Lewis has other interests, be it music or fashion, and it takes his mind off between races.

“Having a good time is something that I think is very positive and very important for his performance on the racing track.

“We are very open with each other on what we do. We Facetime, we send videos. I feel in a very good place with him.”